Top 50 Sitcoms of the 80’s (10 – 1)

May 3, 2012

Well here we are … Top 10 Sitcoms of the 1980’s … All time!
I appreciate you sticking with me through 3 posts … I’m sure THIS is where my order gets the most scutiny BUT It’s my list (I tried not to be biased)

Laverne & Shirley were classic it was the female odd couple, very funny and had a great ensemble cast … depending on the episode a different person steals the show
Lenny and Squiggy, Frank DeFazio, Carmine, even Boo Boo Kitty lol
The iconic “L” on everything Laverne wore …I even had to try Milk and Pepsi one good time (Not so bad)

JTS Moment: The Move away from Milwaukee to California

9. Growing Pains

The Seavers! Mike and Boner ladies and gentleman Great show with a ton of laughs Maggie and Ben could’ve been in a car accident episode 1 season 1 and we wouldn’t been able to tell the difference though Mike Seaver is top 5 Coolest sitcom characters All Time

JTS Moment: Chrissy … and of course Leonardo DiCaprio

8. The Jeffersons

The All in the Family Spinoff! This puts Sherman Hemsley in the top 50 twice
For better or worse everyone loved George Jefferson … and he was the only black person that had dough without getting adopted by a white family LOL
Between George, Florence, and Mother Jefferson jokes were plentiful … and shoutouts to one of the first interracial couples on TV and Lenny Kravits momo, Shoutouts to the George Jefferson Dance and Walk … no shoutouts to the chick that Stabbed George “I’M YOUR WIFE!”

JTS Moment: Two Lionels and when Lionel and Jenny Married

7. Diff’rent Strokes

Speaking of Moving on up, no one disliked Diff’rent Strokes when it was coming on (Till the JTS Moment) Never seen anyone like Arnold before and he was hilarious … the cast was done perfect as no one seemed incredibly useless and they let the little man shine, granted Pearl was the most awful housekeeper … but they had Charlene Duprey! and the Shimmy!!!

… and wasn’t that the same house as The Fresh Prince of Bel Air?

JTS Moment: sam. point blank period.

6. The Golden Girls

There’s no way that Golden Girls could NOT be in the Top 10 and could be arguably higher … just outside of the top 5 but iconic cast and even theme … somehow these 4 ol bittys captured everyone’s hearts and depending on who you ask everyone has a favorite member of the cast
Thankfully they got rid of Coco in the first season

Night Court was a dope comedy because every member of the cast was funny and could carry an episode … dynamic ensemble From Judge Harry to the Bailiff Mac even Bull and Roz … no one shined like Dan Fielding and one of my early crushes Christine
… Markie post was LIKE THAT (then she just disappeared; Almost didn’t recognize her in Something About Mary) Anyway Night Court was a beast and that bassline in the theme is legend!

JTS Moment: When they gave Dan a conscience or The Eskimo episode

Markie Post in the 80s though

4. Three’s Company

“Come and Knock on our door”
Hers and Hers and His!! A wild premise but a damn funny show … between Jack Tripper, Ralph Furly, Helen and Stanley Roper it was going to be something funny every show
Just Mr Roper looking into the camera was enough for me lol
Shoutouts to the Regal Beagle and Larry Dallas … underrated shoutout to Felipe Gomez in Jack’s Bistro LOL
Oh and the Answer is Janet Wood > Terri Alden > Christmas Snow > Cindy Snow

JTS Moment: When Chrissy left and they tried with Cindy and Terri

3. Seinfeld

I know there are a lot of people that “Never got into Seinfeld” or thought Seinfeld was “Just okay” I think it just takes a certain brand of humor to truly appreciate it but even if you don’t have that humor you cannot deny the iconic nature of the show and everything it brought to the table
People who never watched the show quote it from the Soup Nazi to close Talkers, Yadda Yadda Yadda, The Puffy Shirt, The “Contest” and Junior Mints … so many reasons why this is one of the greatest Sitcoms ever

JTS Moment: The Ending?

2. Cheers

Cheers is another show that was excellently cast each member brought something different to the table and when put together it made for a great show, like Seinfeld it stopped feeling like a show and more like watching people you knew live their lives … like you were a part of the crew or eavesdropping … now if I were being biased I’d put Seinfeld at this spot but you cannot deny this show and its legacy 11 Seasons and 111 Emmy Nominations damn!

JTS Moment: Sam and Diane getting Engaged, or when Rebecca went weird

1. The Cosby Show

The Sitcom of the 80s.
So much so when people mention the 80’s and TV it’s pretty much the first show that people think of or mention … the knee-jerk reaction of asking the best show of the 80s is Cosby Show … even if you have a different favorite, it’s your first thought lol
There’s not much I need to say about the Cosby Show … other than you best not call my house 8pm on Thursday Night lol
Shoutouts to Gordon Gartrell

I kinda thought this might be #1. Can’t say I agree, but I’ll let it pass since Three’s Company is in the Top 5.

And while Chrissy might’ve been the Growing Pains JTS moment, have you seen her today? She can GET IT

eclectik

Three’s Company was a classic but the Cast turnover killed it I could’ve put Cheers on there but w/o Cosby … no Cheers lead in LOL

http://underscoopfire.com howie AKA Generic

Chrissy AKA Ashley Johnson IS smokin’ now! Had to interject that.. more comments to come

http://coldslitherpodcast.com Classick Material

I’m sorely disappointed that Just The Ten Of Us didn’t even make this list. Where’s the love for Coach Lubbock and his many daughters? Nancy from Nightmare on Elm Street, son!

eclectik

Hot Daughters indeed, but the little I saw of the show it was awful … sure it could’ve been on there instead of Three’s a Crowd but when it’s that low I went with something I atleast liked lol

http://Fogsmoviereviews Fogsmoviereviews

A solid list. I typically avoid making top ten posts cause theyre so easy for everyone to pick apart due to their own tastes, but for the most part, you nailed this. I might flip Cosby and Cheers, but the easy comeback to that is “Cheers didnt even start catching on until the Cosby Show”

Seinfeld definitely not 1 in the 80s… more a 90s phenomenon. Nice call.

Golden Girls is too high though. I know you love the old gals, but… I dont know, man. LOL. You could easily drop them and put in Family Ties. 😀

Nicely done though, for sure. There arent many weak points here to pick on Eclectik.

eclectik

I appreciate the comment sir
Yeah these lists always open you up for scrutiny … but I figured that would be part of the fun … the discussion (Least we’d be doing back and forth about something cool lol)

Cheers could arguably be top … the Cosby lead in and cultural impact kept it at 2

Seinfeld was sneaky since it started in the 80s but definitely a 90s show … maybe a new list is in order

LOL Family times yeah … Family ties should be higher than Growing pains

http://www.rediscoverthe80s.com Jason G

You got #1 and #2 on the money. I’m like the others and would slide Seinfeld into the 90s.
I’d flip-flop the Jeffersons and Three’s Company.

Glad you gave props to Night Court. Loved it. Consistently funny and with all the new cases each episode, it kept fresh people on the show each week. If I could be anyone on a sitcom, it would be Judge Harry T. Stone.

http://OldSchool.tblog.com @OldSchool80s

Agree with Seinfeld being taken off the list and moved to the 90s.

I would move Family Ties all the way up and slot it in there in the Top 5.

Agree with Golden Girls being WAY too high on the list. Love the nod to Three’s Company and Night Court.

I also thought you had several in the 30-50 range that should have been much higher. Fun to remember all of them regardless.

http://nosite Koala’s Mom

Oh wow — found your list and loved it! What a lot of work … LOVED Night Court. Maybe someone can help me? Looking for the name of an actress (believe she was in an 80’s sitcom) … late 20’s, early 30’s … ditzy blonde … HUGE blue eyes (and a bit buck-toothed?). VERY breathy voice — portrayed totally naive. CAN’T recall what show she was in (that’s how I came to your list) … ah well … gonna check 70’s and 90’s now … Thank you!

Tommy Boy

Good list. Biggest problem I have is Newhart at #43?! Definitely top ten and Arguably top 5. Maybe the best final moment in sitcom history. And where was M*A*S*H? Didn’t that cross over into the 80’s? If Seinfeld is Top 5 on this list, then shouldn’t M*A*S*H be top 5 also? Goodbye, Growing Pains!

I supposed Simpsons would be 80s … I dont consider it a Sitcom, but I can see it there; because what else would it be? LOL

Jak

There was a show about some family I used to watch as a kid and in the opening they were having a picnic and some kid picked up a mustard bottle and acted like he thought it was his drink – attempting to drink it. I think maybe the kids had a garage band and played moanie moanie (however that song is spelled) at one point? I thought Corey Feldman might have been in it but I went through his IMDB and didn’t see anything that was familiar. I do know there was a motherly looking redheaded lady (a little healthy weight-wise) who has been in a lot of things.. This is killing me, if anyone knows what I’m talking about let me know!

April

Jak – I think you’re remembering The Hogan Family (aka Valeria, aka Valerie’s Family). There is a scene at the end of the opening credits where the family is at a picnic and one of the boys raises a bottle of mustard to join a cheer. The redheaded lady would be Edie McClurg, who really did seem to be everywhere in the 80’s. I can’t remember a garage band, but that sounds like an appropriate plotline for the show.

“Best of the West” & “It’s Your Move” were both short-lived but fundamental 80’s sitcoms for me. Also, it’s a tragedy that seasons 2-6 of Alice aren’t easily available.

carlos

NOT EVEN CLOSE…………espicially your top 10

Robert

Where is “Good Times”

carlos

Obviously, its all personal choice. My Choice is ( Wells it the 60’s, twilight zone),1) Happy Days( come on, how can a regular family beat out a group of friends) 2)TAXI( again, come on, how can a family beat out a group of friends)- 3)three’s company(same as above) 4) several other show, next) Married with children and cosby’s some where in the 15-20

http://gravatar.com/bobbx542 bobbx542

Love the list, especially the inclusion of Night Court in the top ten, and I hate to be the nit picker here, but Mac was not a bailiff. He was the court clerk. Interesting bit of info there as well, he wore those disgusting sweater vests as either a tribute to Cosby, or as a parody. Depending on who you listen to.

http://gravatar.com/sturm1 st

Loved the list. A lot of the assessments I agree with, so where I might have changed my order in places I can see your reasons for placements. The awesome LOL and Sho-Nuf moment of this list: You are right, The Last Dragon ep from Different World was heresy! It addressed a topical and important issue, but when I saw that I was like ” Say it ain’t so, Last Dragon (Taimak)!”

Rob S.

I don’t get why people underrate The Golden Girls. I’ve never had a show make me laugh out loud more. I think it’s not only one of the greatest sitcom’s of the 80’s but of all time. It’s nearly impossible for me to look at Seinfield as an 80’s sitcom. I think that determining which decade a sitcom belongs too should be determined by which decade the majority of the show aired in and not which decade it started or ended.

Leisa Smith

I think you got #1 and #2 backwards! Cheers was the best …..ever!

lakawak

Seinfeld is NOT an 80s show. Seinfeld Chronicles is NOT considered part of Seinfeld, even though it is included in the syndication package and DVD set. (Similar to how Three’s Company’s syndication and DVDs have 3 episodes of The Ropers.) IT was a pilot that was considered a failure. The retooled the show, adding Elaine and changing Jerry’s father, as well as the set. So officially, the first episode of Seinfeld aired in 1990.

trickydick

Great list if not just for the memories it brought back! For that alone, I can give you some leeway on the rankings.